McKean’s story is simple, but not to opposing batters

There’s nothing special or unique about how Taylor McKean began playing softball. She tried out for a team at the age five, loved the sport, and kept playing.

Of course, it’s not been so easy for opposing batters — and the majority are most likely wishing she’d chosen another sport for her passion.

But she didn’t, and now she’ll leave the Aledo program after this season as one of the best pitchers ever to don a Ladycats uniform. That’s saying a lot, given the program has established itself annually as one of the best in the state, even winning a national championship several years ago.

“Tee ball was super fun for me, and I was relatively good at it,” McKean, a senior, said. “Even when there was no real pitcher in tee ball or coach pitch, I was always drawn to the circle, so when I was about eight, I decided to try it out for real.”

She also had her sights set on playing for the Ladycats almost from the day she was born.

“I moved here from Fort Worth when I was about one, so I have basically been here my entire life. I went to all the summer camps and every game I could,” she said. “I always knew I was going to be a Ladycat.”

Taylor McKean leans in to get the sign before delivering a pitch against Everman in the bi-district matchup on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

Joining varsity

McKean has been on the varsity for three full seasons, but she was called up for a playoff run in her freshman season that included a state runner-up finish. She also often practiced with the varsity as well during the regular season as a freshman.

“With there being four pitchers on varsity at the time, I knew it would be tough to fully make varsity as a freshman, but I feel I still proved I could compete at that level and earned a spot later in the season,” she said.

The Ladycats reached the state semifinals last season with McKean playing a much larger role. This season, behind her skills in the circle, the goal is to bring home the state championship that has eluded them despite three appearances at state since 2021.

“I am super excited about this season and the potential that we have. Our team dynamic is special, something that we all value and we all know is important to success,” she said. “This season, we all have the same thought process, we all want to win more than we ever have before.”

“It was hard fighting all throughout the playoffs, only for us to barely fall short. With most of the team returning, we all have a collective goal. It’s hard to put into words how difficult the results of last year were, but I think it made us all closer and it made us want to work harder to get farther.”

Major accomplishments

Among her accomplishments as a Ladycat, McKean recently reached 350 career strikeouts. Given the team is never one to rely on a single pitcher for all games throughout the season, that’s extremely impressive, said Ladycats coach Heather Myers.

“Who knows how many she’d have if she didn’t have to share time with other pitchers,” Myers said. “She’s a special pitcher.”

The folks at Tarleton State University agreed. She received a scholarship to pitch for the TexAnns next season.

“I am super excited to compete at Tarleton and play at the next level. This has been a dream of mine for a very very long time, and seeing it come true, especially at a school that felt like home the moment I stepped on campus, is just amazing to me,” McKean said. “Aledo has really put me in a position to succeed in college. Every season provides me with an opportunity to push myself and get better facing amazing competition.”

Something else McKean takes great pride in is having not lost a district game during her high school career. The Ladycats have not lost a league game since falling 5-4 at home to Granbury on March 12, 2001 — when McKean was in the eighth grade.

“That streak is pretty special to me. Not only is it a show of my progress and just how far I’ve come in these four years, but it also keeps me motivated to keep winning and keep producing for my team,” she said.

McKean also plays club ball for Texas Glory. Her accomplishments there include the team reaching the Alliance Nationals in California and placing third in the Tier 2 division.

“Although moving up to 18u was pretty tough with such a young team, we have still managed to do well through the seasons after that, but that was my proudest moment with them,” she said.

For the Ladycats, her top individual accomplishments have included being honorable mention all-district as a sophomore, District 5-5A Co-Pitcher of the Year as a junior, and being a part of the Texas Girls Coaches Class 5A All-Star Team.

“I got to participate in an all-star game with a bunch of other talented players over the summer,” she said.

College

McKean is about to achieve another first. While both of her parents are athletic, neither of them pursued sports past high school.

“Actually, in my entire family, all twenty-something of us, there really hasn’t been anyone who has pursued sports past high school,” she said. “I am essentially the first one to play a sport in college and take it to the next level.”

McKean plans to study biomedical sciences with the intent to someday become a physician’s assistant.

“My goal has always been to go into the medical field after my mom, and I am very lucky that I get to play the sport I love while being able to pursue the career I want,” she said.

Memories

And to create enough memories to last her the rest of her life, she noted: “My favorite memories of being a Ladycat are both of the state runs I was able to be a part of. As a freshman, it was so cool to start off my high school career getting to experience the playoff environment and seeing up close how much talent was on this team. It really showed me the ways of being a Ladycat and set my expectations for future years,” she said.

Last year was even more special, she continued.

“Getting to pitch in a playoff game is so exciting. The energy is different and everything is just intensified,” she said. “Getting to pitch in the state semifinals was even more exciting, and it is something I will never forget. It was like a full circle moment watching all my teammates getting to play in the 2022 state semis and then getting to do it myself two years later.”

“I am very grateful to have been able to be a part of this program. These four years have meant the world to me and I can only hope that I can leave a lasting effect on this program for the future Ladycats.”